Oil Advocates Hit By Critical Ads

The Radio Campaign Targeted Politicians Who Voted For Bush's Proposed Energy Plan.

August 19, 2001|By Tamara Lytle, Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- It may be a drop in the barrel by comparison, but environmental groups are countering the oil industry's advertising blitz with a campaign of their own.

In Orlando, the Space Coast and other areas of the country, they are advertising against lawmakers who voted for President Bush's energy plan.

Alyssondra Campaigne, legislative director for the Natural Resources Defense Council, declined to say how much her group is spending on ads against 14 lawmakers, including Florida Republicans Dave Weldon of Palm Bay and Ric Keller of Orlando. "For us as a community, this is an unprecedented level of media attention," Campaigne said. "But when you compare it to the other side, it's tiny in comparison."

NRDC's ads are targeting 11 Republicans and three Democrats. All voted for Bush's plan, which environmentalists claim does too much for oil companies, too little for conservation and threatens the environment.

The ads have angered target Rep. Ric Keller, who prides himself on being a "green" Republican. He asked radio stations not to run the ads.

"If this group was sincere about protecting the environment, they would be running thank-you ads for me," said Keller, citing his support for Everglades restoration and opposition to drilling near Florida's beaches.

The radio ads, which began running last week, say Keller supported tax breaks for energy companies. Keller complained that the more than $30 billion in tax breaks listed in the ads does not all go to nuclear, coal and oil companies. About $12 million of the tax breaks go elsewhere, including to individuals who conserve energy by buying solar heaters and other energy-efficient devices.

The ads also target him for opposing tougher emission standards for sport-utility vehicles. Keller said the bill he supported does improve air quality with tougher standards but not as quickly as environmentalists want. Keller, who drives an SUV himself, said the tougher standards would have made SUVs lighter and less safe.

Keller also disagrees with environmentalists on some oil-drilling issues. He voted for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He said, however, that he would allow it only in a small portion of tundra that comprises less than 1 percent of the refuge. Drilling off Florida is different, he said. Like NRDC, he opposed drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico close to Florida's shores.